At this point, you may be tempted to skip writing a business plan altogether, viewing it as an unnecessary exercise in jumping-through-the-hoops, suggested by some old business professor who probably never held down a "real" job anyway.

Not surprisingly all these individuals have been in the business game for a long period and understand what they're speaking about. While you are in the beginning stages which may be just what exactly you will want, a professional available to assist you to on your way.

Carrying on with the example of a coffee shop, a business plan consultant will figure out what the best location would be. They already know coffee shops do well in areas with a certain demographic in place. These include students and workers, who are within close proximity to book stores.

Organization - How is the business structured? Who are the principals and the principal shareholders? What authority does each principal have in the venture? What are management's qualifications? What is the job description for each position? What does the organizational chart look like? Possible Data Sources: on-line templates for job descriptions & organizational chart.